MERRY CHRISTMAS & Happy New Year!
Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" - Luke 2:10-11
Dear Friends & Family,
When the angel delivered his heavenly announcement to the shepherds, he started with, "Do not be afraid." But the shepherds, along with all of Israel, lived in frightening times. Their land was under Roman occupation. There was fear about the future. Would they ever be free and would the promised Messiah ever come?
Then suddenly there were angels announcing to the shepherds that the Messiah had come. The message of Christmas is fear not. Have joy. Yet it can be difficult for us to have joy because we are surrounded by sadness. With all the tragedies in the world, all the acts of terrorism, and all the problems we have, how can we have good tidings of great joy? The answer is this: "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).
No matter what happens in life, remember this: You have a Savior. As a Christian, you have been saved from death. You have been saved from eternal punishment and hell. You have the hope that when you die, you will go straight to heaven. That is the most important thing about the Christian life. There is a Heaven waiting for you. You have a Savior.
And to that end we are excited to share with you some things the Lord has been doing though some picture updates...
Family Hike - We enjoyed the fall time and visited a few State parks near us.
The Story: Ministry can be stressful at times and so a we went hiking as a family to spend some quality time together. Both boys loved Maplewood State Park and the brilliant shades of orange, gold, and red in the fall. The outdoors is a great place to learn about God's creation and design.
The Story: We had been praying about starting a home fellowship once we were able to move into our new home and have seen God do amazing things through our time together. Many of those who come have been through so much pain and heartache in their life and when you see the joy of the Lord in them it is a blessing from the hand of God. Such a wonderful privilege to serve the saints of the Lord and love them to Jesus!
Turkey Trot - Anna ran another 5k and Tim did the 1 Mile with both Boys
The Story: We didn't have enough in our budget for all of us to do this but when Joshua heard that the proceeds would benefit Kindred Family Focus (a non-profit foster care and adoption agency) he told us he wanted to use all of the money in his piggy bank to help other kids. That moment touched our hearts so much and we prayed about it. Just a few days later God provided even though Josh did have enough for himself. Josh was so proud that he ran his first 1 mile race but even more happy that he was able to help kids who didn't have a family but should.
Visits From Family
The Story: Anna's mother (Cindy or Mae as the boys call her) was able to join us for an early Thanksgiving and made Christmas crafts with the kids. Tim's mother (Lisa or Gammy as the boys call her) was able to spend some time with us in early December. Lisa's sister Kim passed away and Tim was able to officiate the funeral service and honor his Aunt with much of the Native American side of the family present. Often through death we are reminded of how much people mean to us and the importance of speeding time with your family. God comforts the brokenhearted and promises us that He will help us through the most difficult of storms.
Caleb's 2nd BirthdayThe Story: We had a blessed time celebrating Caleb turning two and praise God for the life he has entrusted to us. This little boy is always so full of laughter and keeps us all smiling. It's been such a joy to watch him grow and we wonder in amazement with all that God has planned for our little boy. Both of our boys love the Lord Jesus and we pray they use their talents for God.
Praise Reports:
- Praise God for drawing new people to the church He is building in Fergus Falls
- Praise the Lord for His loving kindness and perfect timing in every season of life
- Praise God for helping us keep our eyes upon Him, and for staying the course
Prayer Requests:
- For our church leadership team to have wisdom as we actively look for our own building
- For us to continue to invite people into a relationship with Jesus, and help them grow
- For God to continue to add to His church and to help us remain united in Christ
Thank you for your faithful partnership and prayers! May the blessings of the Lord be upon you!
Pastor Tim, Anna, Joshua, and Caleb Molter
To support the work of Calvary Chapel Fergus Falls please visit: http://ccfergusfalls.com/givin
As an added blessing, all gifts to Calvary Chapel of Fergus Falls are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
